Wichita eagle., 1887-01-18
N0UGILET'S VISIT.

habitues and admirers, who spoke warmly
Of the advantages Of these celebrated
places, 50 delightful 10 those who work
in Paris.
But Father Mougflet would say: You
are all flock Of sheep with your 'beauti-
full country and we would answer:
''Well, Aougilet, you never 90 any
where: you never take an airing" Par
dom" said A0ugiiet, Il take Ty airing in
an omnibus When l have taken my
breakfast at my leisure, over there in the
cafe, | climb up to the top Of the omni-
bus, open my umbrella, stir up the
driver, and 10, | see many things-more
than You do in all your pr0menades. |
change my quarter, and it IS as il | had
made a voyage across the world-the
people are SO different in one street from
another. There is nothing more amusing
than to watch the entresols as we pass,
the barber, the modiste, the vasherwoman
it is Il theatre, a true theatre of nature
/ seen by the trot of two horses. l would
/ not give my promenade on the omnibus
/ for all your promenades in the woods. "
To this we answered: But you have
never tried it-come with US one time and
/ see,'
/ Il did try il once replied the old man;
/ ''it was twenty years ago, and | have
/ never tried it again"
/ "Teu Us about it, Nougilet"
/ ''As you viii; 50 here it is: You ali
! know Bolvin, the old clerk whom we
! called Boileau. Well, he was my com
rade in the Office. The old rascal had q
house at c., and he was always beg
/ ging me TO come and spend Sunday with
him, boasting Of the jolly time we would
have together. One day 1 concluded to
accept his invitation. and started by the
early train. I arrived at little
village, a country village, where
one sees nothing and ended by find
ing myself in Il little lane between two
walls, at the end OF which was an Old
wooden gate with an iron bell. | rang,
and waited long time. At last the gate
was opened, and by something that looked
like either q woman or a monkey, | could
not tell which. 1t was old and ugly and
wicked, and covered with dirty clothes
1t had feathers in its hair, and looked as
if it would devour me.
'What do you want:" it demanded.
mons. Bolvin."
'What do you want with Mons. Boz
vin2''
l felt i'll at ease before the interroga-
tons Of this old fury, and 1 stammered:
''He expects me,'
"Ah, it is you," she replied, "who have
come to breakfastn'
l mumbled a trembling eyes, Then
she turned toward the house and cried in
a harsh, croakirg voice: ''Bolyin, here is
your mani"
1t was the wife OF my friend.
Little Bolvin soon appeared at the door
Of loo r-aI hut !, -i-7
so small that it strongly gesembled foot
stove. He had on white cotton trousers
and a crushed Panama. After shaking
hands he took me into what he called his
garden. It was a square of ground about
as big Us a pocket handkerchief, and sur
rounded by houses so high that the sun
reached it only for an hour or two during
the day. Some pansies, pinks, wall flow
ers and rose bushes struggled to grow at
the bottom Of this well, without air and
as hot as furnace from the reelection of
the roofs.
Il have no trees" said Bolvin, but
the walls of my neighbors take their place;
! have shade as if | were in wood. -
Then he took me by the buttonhole ana
said, in a low voice:
You will DO me great favor-you
saw the citizeness-she is not handsome.
To-day, as / have invited you, she has
given me my clean clothes, but if l spot
them there will be the devil to pay. So |
count upon you to water my plants.
| consented. took OF my coat, rolled up
my sleeves, and began to turn the arm of
an old pump which whistled, wheezet and
ratified like a consumptiye, bringing 4
stream of water the size Of my little
finger; il took me ten minutes 10 fill the
watering pot. l was ell il Il perspirati0n.
BOlyin directed me: Here, this plalt-a
little more-thatS enough-nOw, this
one" The pot leaked in perfect stream
and my feet received more water than the
plants The bottom Of my trousers were
soaked and thick with mud. Twenty
times at least | recommended, revvct MY
feet, repcrspired, in trying 10 make the
Old pump so: and when, completely eX-
hausted. 1 wished 10 stop, Bolvin took me
by the arm supplicGtingly and said: ''One
more potfuI only one and it is done"
And when it was finally done, rs
recompense he gave nea rose, great big
rose But had scarcely touched my but
tonhole before ali its leaves fell OF, lcav-
ing only as 4 decoration a little green
pear as hard as stone. said nothing,
but l was ast0lished.
The far of voice Of Nine. B0lvin was
now heard:
"WiH YOU come when one tells you all
is ready"
We approached the footstovc. Il the
garden was fun Of shade the house was
full Of sun, and tie second oven q the
baker was cooler than the saI,e-a-1lauger
Of my friend. Three plates banked by
pewter forks. badly washed appeared on
g table Of yellow wood. IN the middle Of
which was an earthen dish Containing
some boiled beef with potatoes warmed
over. We began TO eat. \ great carafe
OF water, slightly tinted rel, caught my
eye.
Bolvin, confused. said 70 his wife: say.
now. my dear. Tor this occasion couldn't
You give rs q little pure vines'
She frovned furiousiy: so that yoa
could get drunk, both Of you, and stay
here gCzzlinE all day-no, l thank you.'
Bolvin said 20 more.
After the ragout she brought another
dish OF potatoes, made up with bacon, and
when we finished that she said: That IS
all-yoI can go now" Bolvin looked at
her stupefed
But tie pigeon, my dear; the pigeon
SAW you Luck this morning.
She placed her hands upon her hips.
''You have not had enough, l suppose.
Because you bring some people here that
is no reason why you should devour every
thing in the house, What would eat
this evening"
We got up. Bolvin took me By the &C
as we went out. wait for me s min
ute, : he said. He passed into the kitchen
where his wife was, and heard him say:
Give NE twenty SOUS my dearest
''Wha, are you going 10 do with the
80.